Pneumatic radial tires including a tire component containing groups of reinforcing elements

ABSTRACT

A tire component used in a pneumatic radial tire is a rubber-coated layer comprised of a given number of reinforcing elements separately arranged in parallel with each other, in which the reinforcing elements corresponding to at least 30% of all reinforcing elements included in the rubber-coated layer are divided into plural groups, and a distance between mutually adjoining and opposite reinforcing elements not grouped with each other is wider than a distance between mutually adjoining reinforcing elements separately arranged at equal spaces in the group. Thus, the occurrence of cracking at cut ends of the reinforcing elements is prevented to improve the tire durability.

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/013,802 filed Feb. 4, 1993, now abandoned which is a Continuation-in-Part of Ser. No. 07/742,807 filed Aug. 9, 1991, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to pneumatic tires, and more particularly to a pneumatic radial tire having improved durability by improving components for tire skeleton and its reinforcement such as a belt serving to reinforce a tread portion, a turnup portion of a carcass ply and a bead portion reinforcing layer serving to reinforce a bead portion and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

As is well-known, the belt of a tire serves to reinforce the tread portion and particularly acts to enhance the rigidity in the circumferential direction of the tire in case of a pneumatic radial tire. Furthermore, the carcass ply constitutes a skeleton of the tire and its turnup portion contributes to reinforce the bead portion. Moreover, the bead portion reinforcing layer prevents the bead portion from collapsing toward a rim flange brought about by contacting with ground for reinforcing the bead portion and is usually arranged so as to extend from a neighborhood of a bead core or from inside of the tire around the bead core toward outside thereof in the radial direction of the tire along the turnup portion of the carcass ply at a position exceeding the turnup end.

In such tires, it is usual that a rubberized layer formed by embedding reinforcing elements such as monofilaments or cords of organic material or steel in rubber at equal spaces is used as the belt, carcass ply or bead portion reinforcing layer. These reinforcing elements are arranged at a certain inclination angle with respect to an equator of the tire in case of the belt, at a certain inclination angle or right angle with respect to the equator in case of the carcass ply, and a certain inclination angle with respect to the reinforcing element of the carcass ply in case of the bead portion reinforcing layer.

Among the conventional tire components containing the reinforcing elements arranged parallel at equal spaces, when the component is used in the belt, rubber that faces the cut ends of the reinforcing elements is pierced by these reinforcing elements at the widthwise end of the belt due to the tire deformation during the contact with ground to create fine cracking. Such cracking gradually grows between the adjoining reinforcing elements and then rapidly propagates between the mutually laminated belt layers constituting the belt to finally cause a so-called belt separation failure. The propagation rate of the cracking until the occurrence of belt separation failure is fast, which is a major factor for determining the durability of the radial tire.

Furthermore, when the tire component is used in the carcass ply, rubber facing to cut ends of the reinforcing elements is pierced by these reinforcing elements at the turnup end of the carcass ply due to the tire deformation during the contact with ground to create fine cracking. Such cracking gradually grows between the adjoining reinforcing elements and then rapidly propagates toward a sidewall portion and a stiffener, which is a factor for determining the durability of the bead portion.

Similarly, when the tire component is used in the bead portion reinforcing layer, rubber facing to cut ends of the reinforcing elements is pierced by these reinforcing elements at the axially outward or inward end of the bead portion reinforcing layer due to the tire deformation during the contact with ground to create fine cracking. Such cracking gradually grows between the adjoining bead portion reinforcing layers and then rapidly propagates toward the carcass ply or the outside of the tire, which is also a factor for determining the durability of the bead portion in the tire.

Therefore, it is important to control the growth of the cracking. For this purpose, it is advantageous to widen a distance between the mutually adjacent reinforcing elements. However, it is desired to make small the diameter of the reinforcing element because the reduction of tire weight is strongly demanded and also the simplification of the cord used as the reinforcing element is required. As a result, in order to hold the same level of tire strength by using the reinforcing element of smaller diameter, it is thus necessary to increase the end count of the reinforcing elements embedded in rubber and hence the distance between the adjacent reinforcing elements is rather narrower, which undermines the objective of controlling cracking growth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to effectively and adequately solve the problem of degrading the durability of the tire due to the subsequent growth and propagation of fine cracking created at rubber facing to the cut ends of the reinforcing elements at the widthwise end of the conventional tire component and to provide a pneumatic radial tire comprising improved tire components applicable for the solution of this problem.

According to the invention, there is the provision of a pneumatic radial tire comprising various tire components each having a certain circumferential length and comprised of a rubber-coated layer containing a given number of reinforcing elements separately arranged in parallel with each other therein, characterized in that the reinforcing elements corresponding to at least 30% of all reinforcing elements included in said rubber-coated layer are divided into plural groups each consisting of 2-9 reinforcing elements, and a distance between mutually adjacent and opposite reinforcing elements, which are not grouped with each other, is wider than a distance between mutually adjacent reinforcing elements in the group.

In the tire according to the invention, the tire component includes a belt serving to reinforce a tread portion, at least one carcass ply wound around each of a pair of bead cores from an inside of the tire toward an outside thereof and at least one bead portion reinforcing layer folded about each bead core from the inside of the tire toward the outside thereof and extending along the turnup portion of the carcass ply upward in the radial direction of the tire as well as a belt reinforcing layer covering a part or a full width of the belt and the like.

As a material of the reinforcing element, use may be made of any organic monofilaments, organic fiber cords, steel monofilaments and steel cords usually used in the manufacture of the radial tire. As the organic monofilament or fiber cord, there are nylon monofilament or fiber cord, high-modulus polyethylene terephthalate monofilament or fiber cord, aromatic polyamide (a trade name or Kevlar) monofilament or fiber cord and the like. Moreover, there may be used a combination of the reinforcing elements having different diameters, a combination of the reinforcing elements having different materials, a combination of the reinforcing elements having different materials and diameters and the like.

Furthermore, the number of the reinforcing elements per group can vary or be the same of each group. Moreover, a distance between the adjacent reinforcing elements in the group is narrower than the distance between the adjacent reinforcing elements not in the group. In addition, the reinforcing elements in the group may be arranged in parallel with each other but shifted with each other in the radial direction. And also, at least some of the reinforcing elements in the group may be overlapped with each other.

When all of the reinforcing elements in the rubber-coated layer are divided into plural same groups containing a given number of the reinforcing elements, if few reinforcing elements are left over these groups in accordance with the total reinforcing element number required for the formation of tire skeleton or its reinforcement, these remaining reinforcing elements may be arranged substantially at a space equal to the distance between the mutually adjacent and opposite reinforcing elements not grouped with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatically section view of a first embodiment of the pneumatic tire for passenger car to be tested;

FIGS. 2a and 2b are schematic views partly shown in section of a first embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are schematic views partly shown in section of a second embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are schematic views partly shown in section of a third embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 5a and 5b are schematic views partly shown in section of a fourth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 6a and 6b are schematic views partly shown in section of a fifth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 7a and 7b are schematic views partly shown in section of a sixth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatically section view of a first embodiment of the pneumatic tire for truck and bus to be tested;

FIGS. 9a and 9b are schematic views partly shown in section of a seventh embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatically section view of a second embodiment of the pneumatic tire for truck and bus to be tested;

FIGS. 11a and 11b are schematic views partly shown in section of an eighth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 12a and 12b are schematic views partly shown in section of a ninth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 13a and 13b are schematic views partly shown in section of a tenth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 14a and 14b are schematic views partly shown in section of an eleventh embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 15a, 15b and 15c are schematic views partly shown in section of a twelfth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatically section view of a second embodiment of the pneumatic tire for passenger car to be tested;

FIGS. 17a and 17b are schematic views partly shown in section of a thirteenth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 18a and 18b are schematic views partly shown in section of a fourteenth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatically section view of a third embodiment of the pneumatic tire for truck and bus to be tested;

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatically section view of a fourth embodiment of the pneumatic tire for truck and bus to be tested;

FIGS. 21a and 21b are schematic views partly shown in section of a fifteenth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 22a and 22b are schematic views partly shown in section of a sixteenth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 23a and 23b are schematic views partly shown in section of a seventeenth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIGS. 24a and 24b are schematic views partly shown in section of an eighteenth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively;

FIG. 25 is a diagrammatically section view of a third embodiment of the pneumatic tire for passenger car to be tested;

FIGS. 26a and 26b are schematic views partly shown in section of a nineteenth embodiment of the rubber-coated layer showing a comparative arrangement of reinforcing elements, respectively; and

FIGS. 27a and 27b are schematic views partly shown in section of the other embodiments of the rubber-coated layer showing an arrangement of reinforcing elements according to the invention, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In order to provide the rubber-coated layer comprised of the reinforcing elements for use in the tire component, according to the invention, a calendered ply containing the reinforcing elements is first formed, for example, by using a combination of comb-type roll and calender rolls. In this case, the reinforcing elements are divided into plural groups each containing several reinforcing elements such as groups of two reinforcing elements by means of the comb-type roll and then coated with a rubber sheet by means of calender rolls to form a calendered ply.

If it is intended to use the calendered ply as a tire component for the reinforcement of the tire so as to incline the reinforcing elements at a certain angle with respect to the equator of the tire, the calendered ply is slantly cut in the widthwise direction of the calendered ply and then the cut plies are rejoined at their widthwise ends with each other to form a continuous rubber strip, which is wound into a coil and then supplied to a tire building step.

As previously mentioned, the rubber breakage at cut ends of the reinforcing elements in the tire component is based on the fine cracking created by repeatedly piercing the reinforcing elements into rubber facing the the cut ends of the reinforcing elements every the tire deformation and grown along the surface of the reinforcing element. Apart from such an initial stage, when the reinforcing elements are separately arranged in parallel with each other at equal spaces according to the conventional technique, the cracking immediately starts to grow across the mutually adjoining reinforcing elements and rapidly propagates between laminated rubber-coated layers as the tire component or toward the inside or outside of the tire about the tire component to cause various separation failures, crackings and the like.

On the contrary, according to the invention, the reinforcing elements corresponding to at least 30% of all reinforcing elements included in the rubber-coated layer are divided into plural groups containing 2-9 reinforcing elements, so that the groups and the reinforcing elements not belonging to the group are incorporated in the rubber-coated layer. Therefore, the distance between the mutually adjacent and opposite reinforcing elements not grouped with each other becomes wider than the distance between the adjacent reinforcing elements when they are arranged at equal spaces in the group. As a result, the growth of the cracking after the initial cracking stage between the adjacent reinforcing elements is delayed in accordance with the distance between the mutually adjacent and opposite reinforcing elements, whereby the rapid propagation to separation and cracking failures is effectively controlled.

As the rigidity of the reinforcing element becomes high, the occurrence of initial cracking by the piercing of the reinforcing element at the side end of the tire component is naturally faster than that in the reinforcing element such as nylon fiber cord or polyethylene terephthalate fiber cord. Therefore, when the invention is applied to the high rigidity reinforcing elements such as Kevlar fiber cord, steel cord and the like, the effect of controlling the rapid propagation to separation failure becomes more conspicuous.

Moreover, even when only the reinforcing elements corresponding to less than 30% of all reinforcing elements included in the rubber-coated layer are divided into groups each comprised of some reinforcing elements, the distance between the mutually adjacent and opposite reinforcing elements becomes somewhat wider than the distance between the adjacent reinforcing elements in the group, so that the occurrence of separation and cracking failures can be prevented, but it can not be said that the control effect is too high. Such an effect is conspicuous when the reinforcing elements corresponding to at least 50% of all reinforcing elements included in the rubber-coated layer are divided into plural groups.

When the number of the reinforcing elements in the group is more than 9, the distance between the mutually adjacent and opposite reinforcing elements not grouped with each other can be more widened, but unadhered portion of the cut ends of the reinforcing elements in the group becomes gradually larger to undesirably cause the propagation of the cracking inside the group. Preferably, the number of the reinforcing elements in the group is 2-6.

The following examples are given in illustration of the invention and are not intended as limitations thereof.

Example 1

Radial tires 1 for passenger car having a tire size of 185/70 R14 as sectionally shown in FIG. 1 are tested, in which two belt layers 2 are arranged as a belt for reinforcing a tread portion of the tire 1 and the other tire structure is the same as in the conventional radial tire. As each of the belt layers 2 are used the conventional rubber-coated layer and the rubber-coated layer according to the invention having various arrangements of reinforcing elements 3 as shown in FIGS. 2a to 7b and 21a and 21b, respectively. Numeral 4 is a group comprised of given number of the reinforcing elements 3.

In the belt layer 2 shown in FIGS. 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a and 21a, the reinforcing elements 3 are separately arranged at equal spaces S in the rubber-coated layer according the conventional technique. In the belt layer 2 shown in FIGS. 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b and 21b, the reinforcing elements 3 are divided into groups 4 each comprised of some reinforcing elements, which are arranged at a distance δ between mutually adjacent and opposite reinforcing elements not grouped with each other wider than the space S. As illustrated in FIG. 2b, a substantial spacing exists between at least some mutually adjacent reinforcing elements in one group compared to a space between mutually adjacent reinforcing elements in another group. FIG. 3b shows an embodiment of alternately arranging two kinds of groups 4, 4' containing different reinforcing element numbers. Moreover, there are used various reinforcing elements 3 as shown in Table 1.

In all of the test tires, the reinforcing elements 3 in the two belt layers 2 are inclined at an angle of 24° with respect to an equator of the tire and crossed with each other. Furthermore, the belt layer 2 located side a tread portion has a width slightly narrower than that of the belt layer 2 located side a carcass ply.

Each of these test tires 1 is run on a drum testing machine at a speed of 80 km/hr under an internal pressure of 1.9 kgf/cm² and a load of 455 kg over a distance of 60,000 km and thereafter a length of cracking created in the vicinity of widthwise end of the belt layer 2 is measured to obtain results as shown in Table 1.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________                       Distance S between                                                                          Distance δ between                                          reinforcing elements arranged                                                               reinforcing elements not                                                                  Ratio of                                       End count                                                                              at equal spaces                                                                             grouped with each other                                                                   cracking                             Reinforcing element                                                                      (elements/50 mm)                                                                       (mm)         (mm)       length                                                                              Remarks                         __________________________________________________________________________     Kevlar cord                                                                              43.5    0.54         --         0.60 FIG. 2a                         of 1500 d/2       --           1.62            FIG. 2b                         Kevlar cord                                                                              43.5    0.54         --         0.52 FIG. 3a                         of 1500 d/2       --           2.16            FIG. 3b                         HM PET cord of                                                                           59.1    0.07         --         0.71 FIG. 4a                         1500 d/2          --           0.42            FIG. 4b                         Kevlar monofilament                                                                      80.0    0.23         --         0.82 FIG. 5a                         of 0.4 mm in diameter                                                                            --           0.46            FIG. 5b                         Kevlar cord                                                                              43.5    0.54         --         0.94 FIG. 6a                         of 1500 d/2       --           0.65            FIG. 6b                         Kevlar cord                                                                              43.5    0.54         --         0.85 FIG. 7a                         of 1500 d/2       --           0.72            FIG. 7b                         steel cord of                                                                            41.0    0.59         --         0.83 FIG. 5a                         1 × 5 × 0.23                                                                         --           1.18            FIG. 5b                         steel cord of                                                                            41.0    0.59         --         0.77 FIG. 21a                        1 × 5 × 0.23                                                                         --           1.18            FIG. 21b                        __________________________________________________________________________

Since the cracking created in the vicinity of the widthwise end of the belt is observed only in the belt layer located side the tread portion, the measured results in Table 1 show the ratio of cracking length in only the belt layer located side the tread portion. Based on this fact, it is possible to apply the rubber-coated layer according to the invention only to the belt layer located side the tread portion.

When the arrangement of the reinforcing elements is compared between FIG. 5b and FIG. 21b using the steel cord as the reinforcing element, a better result is obtained in the arrangement of FIG. 21b in which the reinforcing elements in the group are shifted in the radial direction than that of FIG. 5b in which the reinforcing elements are arranged straight in parallel with each other. This is due to the fact that strain of rubber facing to the cut ends of the reinforcing elements by the piercing of the reinforcing elements is dispersed in the arrangement of FIG. 21b to delay the occurrence of fine cracking created in the rubber as compared with the arrangement of FIG. 5b. As illustrated in FIG. 5b, the distance between mutually adjacent reinforcing elements within each of the groups is not the same in all of the groups.

Example 2

As a radial tire 1 for truck and bus having a tire size of 10.00 R20 as shown in FIG. 8, there are provided two test tires, in which four belt layers 2 having the arrangement of the reinforcing elements as shown in FIG. 9a or 9b are arranged for reinforcing the tread portion and the reinforcing elements in these belt layers are inclined at angles of 18° upward to the left, 18° upward to the left, 18° upward to the right and 50° upward to the right with respect to the equator of the tire, respectively, viewing from the side of the tread portion.

After each of the test tires is run on a drum testing machine at a speed of 60 km/hr under an internal pressure of 7.00 kgf/cm² and a load of 2600 kg over a distance of 100,000 km, the cracking length created in the vicinity of the widthwise end of the belt is measured to obtain results as shown in Table 2.

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________                      Distance S between                                                                          Distance δ between                                          reinforcing elements arranged                                                               reinforcing elements not                                                                  Ratio of                                       End count                                                                              at equal spaces                                                                             grouped with each other                                                                   cracking                              Reinforcing element                                                                     (elements/50 mm)                                                                       (mm)         (mm)       length                                                                              Remarks                          __________________________________________________________________________     Kevlar cord                                                                             70.0    0.09         --         0.71 FIG. 9a                          of 1500 d/2      --           0.27            FIG. 9b                          __________________________________________________________________________

The cracking created in the vicinity of the widthwise end of the belt is observed only in the second belt layer viewed from the side of the tread portion. From this fact, it is apparent that the rubber-coated layer according to the invention can be applied only to the second belt layer viewed from the side of the tread portion.

Example 3

As a radial tire 1 for truck and bus having a tire size of 11/70 R22.5 as shown in FIG. 10, there are eleven test tires in which a carcass ply 5 having the arrangement of the reinforcing elements as shown in FIGS. 11 to 15 is wound around a bead core 7 from an inside of the tire toward outside thereof to form a turnup portion 6. Numeral 8 is a bead portion reinforcing layer. Furthermore, the tire structure other than the carcass ply is substantially the same as in the conventional radial tire. Moreover, there are used various reinforcing elements 3 as shown in Tables 3 and 4.

Each of these test tires is run on a drum testing machine at a speed of 80 km/hr under an internal pressure of 8.0 kgf/cm² and a load of 3000 kg, during which a running distance till the occurrence of cracking in the carcass ply is measured to obtain results as shown in Tables 3 and 4.

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________                        Distance S between                                                                          Distance δ between                                          reinforcing elements arranged                                                               reinforcing elements not                                                                  Ratio of                                       End count                                                                              at equal spaces                                                                             grouped with each other                                                                   running                             Reinforcing element                                                                       (elements/50 mm)                                                                       (mm)         (mm)       distance                                                                           Remarks                         __________________________________________________________________________     steel cord of                                                                             27.56   0.75         --         1.23                                                                               FIG. 11a                        3 + 9 + 15 × 0.175                                                                          --           1.50           FIG. 11b                        steel cord of                                                                             30.28   0.71         --         1.59                                                                               FIG. 12a                        3 + 9 × 0.23 --           2.13           FIG. 12b                        steel cord of                                                                             47.43   0.37         --         1.20                                                                               FIG. 13a                        1 × 5 × 0.25                                                                          --           0.93           FIG. 13b                        steel cord of                                                                             59.29   0.26         --         1.60                                                                               FIG. 14a                        1 × 4 × 0.25                                                                          --           1.30           FIG. 14b                        steel monofilament of                                                                     102.5   0.19         --         1.37                                                                               FIG. 14a                        0.3 mm in diameter --           0.94           FIG. 14b                        Kevlar monofilament of                                                                    99.5    0.10         --         1.10                                                                               FIG. 14a                        0.4 mm in diameter --           0.51           FIG. 14b                        Kevlar cord of                                                                            54.0    0.30         --         1.66                                                                               FIG. 14a                        1500 d/2           --           1.48           FIG. 14b                        __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________                        Distance S between                                                                          Distance δ between                                          reinforcing elements arranged                                                               reinforcing elements not                                                                  Ratio of                                       End count                                                                              at equal spaces                                                                             grouped with each other                                                                   running                             Reinforcing element                                                                       (elements/50 mm)                                                                       (mm)         (mm)       distance                                                                           Remarks                         __________________________________________________________________________     steel cord of                                                                             35.30   0.48         --         1.16                                                                               FIG. 15a                        3 + 9 × 0.23 --           0.64           FIG. 15b                        steel cord of                                                                             35.30   0.48         --         1.08                                                                               FIG. 15a                        3 + 9 × 0.23 --           0.60           FIG. 15c                        steel monofilament of                                                                     96.0    0.22         --         1.11                                                                               FIG. 15a                        0.3 mm in diameter --           0.29           FIG. 15b                        Kevlar monofilament of                                                                    93.2    0.14         --         1.10                                                                               FIG. 15a                        0.4 mm in diameter --           0.18           FIG. 15b                        Kevlar cord                                                                               50.7    0.36         --         1.14                                                                               FIG. 15a                        of 1500 d/2        --           0.48           FIG. 15b                        __________________________________________________________________________

Example 4

As a radial tire 1 for passenger car having a tire size of P235/75 SR15 as shown in FIG. 16, there are provided four test tires in which a carcass ply 5 having the arrangement of the reinforcing elements as shown in FIGS. 17 to 18 is wound around a bead core 7 from an inside of the tire toward outside thereof to form a turnup portion 6. Furthermore, the tire structure other than the carcass ply is substantially the same as in the conventional radial tire. Moreover, there are used various reinforcing elements 3 as shown in Table 5.

Each of these test tires is run on a drum testing machine at a speed of 60 km/hr under an internal pressure of 2.0 kgf/cm² and a load of 1450 kg, during which a running distance till the occurrence of cracking in the carcass ply is measured to obtain results as shown in Table 5.

                                      TABLE 5                                      __________________________________________________________________________                        Distance S between                                                                          Distance δ between                                          reinforcing elements arranged                                                               reinforcing elements not                                                                  Ratio of                                       End count                                                                              at equal spaces                                                                             grouped with each other                                                                   running                             Reinforcing element                                                                       (elements/50 mm)                                                                       (mm)         (mm)       distance                                                                           Remarks                         __________________________________________________________________________     nylon-6,6 monofilament                                                                    39.08   0.78         --         1.29                                                                               FIG. 17a                        of 0.5 mm in diameter                                                                             --           1.56           FIG. 17b                        SR II PET cord of                                                                         53.4    0.41         --         1.50                                                                               FIG. 18a                        1000 d/2           --           1.23           FIG. 18b                        steel monofilament of                                                                     49.8    0.77         --         1.68                                                                               FIG. 17a                        0.23 mm in diameter                                                                               --           1.54           FIG. 17b                        Kevlar monofilament of                                                                    36.3    0.98         --         1.56                                                                               FIG. 17a                        0.4 mm in diameter --           1.96           FIG. 17b                        Kevlar cord of                                                                            33.7    0.85         --         1.65                                                                               FIG. 17a                        1500 d/2           --           1.70           FIG. 17b                        __________________________________________________________________________

Example 5

As a radial tire 1 for truck and bus having a tire size of 11/70 R22.5 as shown in FIG. 19 or 20, there are provided eight test tires in which a rubber-coated layer having the arrangement of the reinforcing elements as shown in FIGS. 21a to 24b is used as a bead portion reinforcing layer 8. In the tire of FIG. 20, numeral 9 is an additional reinforcing layer of steel cords reinforcing the carcass ply 5. Furthermore, the tire structure other than the bead portion reinforcing layer is substantially the same as in the conventional radial tire. Moreover, there are used various reinforcing elements 3 as shown in Table 6.

Each of these test tires is run on a drum testing machine at a speed of 60 km/hr under an internal pressure of 7.5 kgf/cm² and a load of 3000 kg over a distance of 60,000 km, and thereafter the cracking length created in the vicinity of outward end of the bead portion reinforcing layer 8 in the radial direction of the tire is measured to obtain results as shown in Table 6.

                                      TABLE 6                                      __________________________________________________________________________                                 Distance S between                                                                          Distance δ between                                     Inclination                                                                         reinforcing elements arranged                                                               reinforcing elements                                                                      Ratio of                   Tire           End count                                                                              angle                                                                               at equal spaces                                                                             grouped with each                                                                         cracking                   structure                                                                           Reinforcing element                                                                      (elements/50 mm)                                                                       (°)                                                                          (mm)         (mm)       length                                                                               Remarks              __________________________________________________________________________     FIG. 19                                                                             nylon cord of                                                                            35.0    38   1.33         --         0.78  FIG. 21a                  1260 d/2               --           2.83             FIG. 21b             FIG. 20                                                                             nylon cord of                                                                            34.5    30   1.68         --         0.79  FIG. 21a                  1260 d/2                            3.56             FIG. 21b             FIG. 19                                                                             nylon monofilament                                                                       50.2    38   0.97         --         0.59  FIG. 22a                  of 4000 d              --           4.06             FIG. 22b             FIG. 20                                                                             nylon monofilament                                                                       48.0    30   1.28         --         0.63  FIG. 22a                  of 4000 d              --           5.34             FIG. 22b             FIG. 20                                                                             steel monofilament                                                                       50.4    30   1.56         --         0.48  FIG. 21a                  of 0.3 mm in diameter  --           3.12             FIG. 21b             FIG. 20                                                                             steel monofilament                                                                       50.4    30   1.56         --         0.53  FIG. 5a                   of 0.3 mm in diameter  --           3.12             FIG. 5b              FIG. 20                                                                             steel cord of                                                                            34.5    30   1.68         --         0.46  FIG. 21a                  1 × 5 × 0.23                                                                              --           3.36             FIG. 21b             FIG. 20                                                                             steel cord of                                                                            34.5    30   1.68         --         0.52  FIG. 5a                   1 × 5 × 0.23                                                                              --           3.36             FIG.                 __________________________________________________________________________                                                               5b              

When the arrangement of the reinforcing elements is compared between FIG. 5b and FIG. 21b using the steel cord as the reinforcing element, a better result is obtained in the arrangement of FIG. 21b in which the reinforcing elements in the group are shifted in the radial direction than that of FIG. 5b in which the reinforcing elements are arranged straight in parallel with each other. This is due to the fact that strain of rubber facing to the cut ends of the reinforcing elements by the piercing of the reinforcing elements is dispersed in the arrangement of FIG. 21b to delay the occurrence of fine cracking created in the rubber as compared with the arrangement of FIG. 5b.

Moreover, similar results are obtained even in the arrangement of the reinforcing elements 3 as shown in FIGS. 23a and 24b.

Example 6

As a radial tire 1 for passenger car having a tire size of 195/75 R14 as shown in FIG. 25, there are four test tires in which a rubber-coated layer having the arrangement of the reinforcing elements as shown in FIG. 26 is used as a bead portion reinforcing layer 8. Furthermore, the tire structure other than the bead portion reinforcing layer is substantially the same as in the conventional radial tire. Moreover, there are used various reinforcing elements 3 as shown in Table 7.

Each of these test tires is run on a drum testing machine at a speed of 80 km/hr under an internal pressure of 2.0 kgf/cm² and a load of 600 kg over a distance of 60,000 km, and thereafter the cracking length created in the vicinity of outward end of the bead portion reinforcing layer 8 in the radial direction of the tire is measured to obtain results as shown in Table 7.

                                      TABLE 7                                      __________________________________________________________________________                                 Distance S between                                                                          Distance δ between                                     Inclination                                                                         reinforcing elements arranged                                                               reinforcing elements                                                                      Ratio of                   Tire           End count                                                                              angle                                                                               at equal spaces                                                                             grouped with each                                                                         cracking                   structure                                                                           Reinforcing element                                                                      (elements/50 mm)                                                                       (°)                                                                          (mm)         (mm)       length                                                                               Remarks              __________________________________________________________________________     FIG. 25                                                                             Kevlar cord of                                                                           35.0    60   0.92         --         0.67  FIG. 26a                  1500 d/2               --           2.83             FIG. 26b             FIG. 25                                                                             Kevlar monofilament                                                                      64.4    60   0.43         --         0.73  FIG. 26a                  of 0.4 mm in diameter  --           1.33             FIG.                 __________________________________________________________________________                                                               26b             

Moreover, similar results are obtained even in the arrangement of the reinforcing elements 3 as shown in FIGS. 27a and 27b.

As mentioned above, the invention can effectively prevent the growth and propagation of cracking created in the vicinity of cut ends of the reinforcing elements in the tire component causing separation failure at the widthwise end of the tire component in the pneumatic radial tire. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pneumatic radial tire comprising; a belt serving to reinforce a tread portion, a carcass ply wound around each of a pair of bead cores from an inside of a tire to an outside thereof, said belt being comprised of a rubber-coated layer containing a given number of reinforcing elements separately arranged in parallel with each other therein, wherein at least 50% of all reinforcing elements included in said rubber-coated layer are divided into plural groups each consisting of 2-9 reinforcing elements, a distance between mutually adjacent and opposite reinforcing elements, which are not grouped together, is wider than a distance between mutually adjacent reinforcing elements within each of said groups and, said distance between mutually adjacent reinforcing elements within each of said groups is not the same in all of said groups.
 2. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 1, wherein the number of the reinforcing elements is the same in said groups.
 3. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 1, wherein the number of the reinforcing elements is different in said groups.
 4. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the adjacent reinforcing elements in said groups is narrower than the distance between all adjacent reinforcing elements if all reinforcing elements included in said rubber-coated layer were arranged at equal spaces.
 5. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 4, wherein some of the adjacent reinforcing elements in said groups contact with each other.
 6. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 1, wherein said reinforcing elements are selected from the group consisting of an organic monofilament, an organic fiber cord, a steel monofilament and a steel cord.
 7. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the reinforcing elements included in one of said groups come into contact with each other.
 8. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel cords and each group consists of two steel cords.
 9. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel cords and each group consists of three steel cords.
 10. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel cords.
 11. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing elements are organic monofilaments.
 12. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel monofilaments.
 13. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing elements are organic fiber cords.
 14. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 1 wherein not all of said reinforcing elements in said rubber-coated layer are divided into said plural groups.
 15. A pneumatic radial tire comprising; a belt serving to reinforce a tread portion, a carcass ply wound around each of a pair of bead cores from an inside of a tire to an outside thereof, said belt being comprised of a rubber-coated layer containing a given number of reinforcing elements separately arranged in parallel with each other therein, wherein at least 50% of all reinforcing elements included in said rubber-coated layer are divided into plural groups each consisting of 2-9 reinforcing elements, a distance between mutually adjacent and opposite reinforcing elements, which are not grouped together, is wider than a distance between mutually adjacent reinforcing elements within each of said groups such that a substantial spacing exists between at least some mutually adjacent reinforcing elements in one group compared to a space between mutually adjacent reinforcing elements in another group.
 16. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 15 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel cords and each group consists of two steel cords.
 17. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 15 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel cords and each group consists of three steel cords.
 18. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 15 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel cords.
 19. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 15 wherein said reinforcing elements are organic monofilaments.
 20. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 15 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel monofilaments.
 21. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 15 wherein said reinforcing elements are organic fiber cords.
 22. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 15 wherein not all of said reinforcing elements in said rubber-coated layer are divided into said plural groups.
 23. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 15, wherein the number of the reinforcing elements is the same in said groups.
 24. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 15, wherein the number of the reinforcing elements is different in said groups.
 25. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 15, wherein a distance between the adjacent reinforcing elements in said groups is narrower than the distance between all adjacent reinforcing elements if all reinforcing elements included in said rubber-coated layer were arranged at equal spaces.
 26. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 25, wherein some of the adjacent reinforcing elements in said groups contact with each other.
 27. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 15, wherein said reinforcing elements are selected from the group consisting of an organic monofilament, an organic fiber cord, a steel monofilament and a steel cord.
 28. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 15, wherein at least some of the reinforcing elements included in one of said groups come into contact with each other.
 29. A pneumatic radial tire comprising; a belt serving to reinforce a tread portion, a carcass ply wound around each of a pair of bead cores from an inside of a tire to an outside thereof, said belt being comprised of a rubber-coated layer containing a given number of reinforcing elements separately arranged in parallel with each other therein, wherein 30% to less than 50% of all reinforcing elements included in said rubber-coated layer are divided into plural groups each consisting of 2-9 reinforcing elements, a distance between mutually adjacent and opposite reinforcing elements, which are not grouped together, is wider than a distance between mutually adjacent reinforcing elements within each of said groups and, said distance between mutually adjacent reinforcing elements within each of said groups is not the same in all of said groups.
 30. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 29, wherein the number of the reinforcing elements is the same in said groups.
 31. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 29, wherein the number of the reinforcing elements is different in said groups.
 32. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 29, wherein a distance between the adjacent reinforcing elements in said groups is narrower than the distance between all adjacent reinforcing elements if all reinforcing elements included in said rubber-coated layer were arranged at equal spaces.
 33. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 32, wherein some of the adjacent reinforcing elements in said groups contact with each other.
 34. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 29, wherein said reinforcing elements are selected from the group consisting of an organic monofilament, an organic fiber cord, a steel monofilament and a steel cord.
 35. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 29, wherein at least some of the reinforcing elements included in one of said groups come into contact with each other.
 36. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 29 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel cords and each group consists of two steel cords.
 37. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 29 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel cords and each group consists of three steel cords.
 38. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 29 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel cords.
 39. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 29 wherein said reinforcing elements are organic monofilaments.
 40. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 29 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel monofilaments.
 41. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 29 wherein said reinforcing elements are organic fiber cords.
 42. A pneumatic radial tire comprising; a belt serving to reinforce a tread portion, a carcass ply wound around each of a pair of bead cores from an inside of a tire to an outside thereof, said belt being comprised of a rubber-coated layer containing a given number of reinforcing elements separately arranged in parallel with each other therein, wherein 30% to less than 50% of all reinforcing elements included in said rubber-coated layer are divided into plural groups each consisting of 2-9 reinforcing elements, a distance between mutually adjacent and opposite reinforcing elements, which are not grouped together, is wider than a distance between mutually adjacent reinforcing elements within each of said groups such that a substantial spacing exists between at least some reinforcing elements in one group compared to a space between reinforcing elements in another group.
 43. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 42, wherein the number of the reinforcing elements is the same in said groups.
 44. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 42, wherein the number of the reinforcing elements is different in said groups.
 45. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 42, wherein a distance between the adjacent reinforcing elements in said groups is narrower than the distance between all adjacent reinforcing elements if all reinforcing elements included in said rubber-coated layer were arranged at equal spaces.
 46. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 45, wherein some of the adjacent reinforcing elements in said groups contact with each other.
 47. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 42, wherein said reinforcing elements are selected from the group consisting of an organic monofilament, an organic fiber cord, a steel monofilament and a steel cord.
 48. The pneumatic radial tire according to claim 42, wherein at least some of the reinforcing elements included in one of said groups come into contact with each other.
 49. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 42 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel cords and each group consists of two steel cords.
 50. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 42 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel cords and each group consists of three steel cords.
 51. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 42 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel cords.
 52. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 42 wherein said reinforcing elements are organic monofilaments.
 53. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 42 wherein said reinforcing elements are steel monofilaments.
 54. The pneumatic radial tire of claim 42 wherein said reinforcing elements are organic fiber cords. 